The name Travis is of Scottish origin and means "to cross" or "stride across". It is derived from the surname Travers which was originally an English topographic surname for someone who lived near a river crossing. The name Travis gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, but it has been used as a given name since at least the 18th century.
The name Travis is believed to have been brought to North America by Scottish immigrants who settled in the southern states of the US. It was also popular among early settlers in Texas, where several notable historical figures bore the name, including William Barret Travis, a hero of the Battle of the Alamo.
Today, Travis is considered a unisex name but it is more commonly used for boys. It has been used as a given name by numerous celebrities and public figures, including actors Travis Fimmel and Travis Scott, and musician Travis Barker. Despite its Scottish origins, Travis is now used worldwide and has become particularly popular in English-speaking countries.
In terms of its popularity, the name Travis peaked in the US during the 1980s and 1990s when it was consistently ranked among the top 100 names for boys. While its popularity has since declined somewhat, it remains a common choice for parents looking for a strong and distinctive name for their sons.
Overall, the name Travis is of Scottish origin and means "to cross" or "stride across". It has a long history of use as both a given name and surname, and has been particularly popular in the United States. Today it is considered a unisex name but is more commonly used for boys, and remains a popular choice among parents worldwide.
The name Travis experienced significant growth in popularity from the early 1900s to its peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It started with fewer than 10 births per year up until 1888, then began a slow but steady increase, reaching double digits consistently by the 1900s. The name's popularity surged in the 1960s, with over 1000 births each year from 1964 onwards, peaking at over 2800 births per year between 1968 and 1970. However, since then, the popularity of the name Travis has declined significantly, with fewer than 1000 births per year recorded from 1985 onwards, and dropping below 1000 again in 2021 with only 847 births. In total, there have been over 306,901 births registered as Travis since 1880.